Support structure

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a support structure formed from two adjacent walls. The structure can be utilized in tray containers to divide it into partial shelves. The shelves are formed by utilizing a portion of both sides of two adjacent walls which form the shelves and supports thereof.

United States Patent Hoffman et a]. [451 Oct. 10, 1972 [54] SUPPORT STRUCTURE 2,735,553 2/1956 Lehman ..211/73 X 72 Inventors: Louis s. "OHM Morristown NJ; 2,748,927 6/1956 Crane ..206/44 l York 3,1 Frater ..21 [73] Assignee: Beech-Nut, Inc., New York, N.Y. P i ry E i er-Nil C. Byers, Jr.

Attorney-Lawrence S. bevinson, Merle J. Smith, [22] 1970 Donald J. Perrella and Burton Rodney [2]] Appl. No.: 99,800

[5 1 ABs'mAcr [52] US. Cl. ..211/126, 206/44, 248/174 Disclosed herein is a support structure formed from [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 3/14 two adjacent walls. The structure can be utilized in [58] Field of Search ..21 l/ 126, 72, 132, 73, 135, tray containers to divide it into partial shelves. The 21 1/ 137; 248/174; 206/45. 17, 44, 45.14, 72, shelves are formed by utilizing a portion of both sides 79, 78 of two adjacent walls which form the shelves and supports thereof. [56] References Cited I 4 4 D UNITED STATES PATENTS SUPPORT STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Trays to hold rigid materials have been in the marketplace for a great number of years. Their usefulness, however, has been greatly hampered by their bulk or the use of molded plastic materials which require large storage areas. Trays of the character described herein have had a disadvantage in that they could not properly support the materials or items inserted therein and eventually these items fell or slipped to the bottom of the tray. This made it extremely difficult to display items in trays in a manner that would attract public attention. The economics of making, storing and utilizing trays of the character described in the instant invention has prior to this invention been such that for many years a solution to these problems has been unsuccessfully sought.

THE INVENTION This invention relates to a support structure and more particularly to a tray container which can be economically formed from a flat blank and contains partial shelves on either side which are supported by a hinge formed from the bottom of the tray. More specifically the invention relates to a display tray which comprises four walls and a bottom, at least one side wall having at least one partial shelf hinged at its adjacent side wall which is supported by a hinge from the adjacent bottom and said side wall and bottom hinges forming the partial shelf and support for said shelf, respectively.

The term partial shelf as utilized herein means a rib formed from two adjacent walls whereby the portion projecting inwardly is supported by the .web or supporting section of its adjoining wall.

The features of this invention can be more clearly understood from' the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a blank for forming said tray;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the display tray;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the display tray with portions of the side formed as partial shelves;

FIG. 4 is a bottom of the tray with a portion of the bottom formed as supports for partial shelves.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the blank is prepared having flaps l2, l4, l6, 18, and 22 hinged at lines ll, l3, I5, 17, 19 and 21 to enable the flaps to be folded inward to seal flaps 12 and 16 on the face of flap l4 and flaps l8 and 22 of the face of flap 20 to provide a tray container. Top side walls 24 and 26 are folded on themselves to provide a rigid wall structure. The folds 24 and 26 can contain some form of rigid material such as wire or the like to strengthen the side walls 28 and 30 of the tray formed. Partial shelf 32 and support flap 34 are scored by cutting line 36 across the side wall and bottom 38 of the tray 10. Hinges 40 and 42 are serrated along the side walls 28 and 30 and bottom 38 of the tray. On folding flaps 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 as hereinabove described, a tray is formed.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, shelf 32 is formed by pushing shelf 32 inward on hinge 40. This causes hinge 42 to also push inward along hinge 44 substantially at a right angle.

It can be seen that shelf 32 is now supported by that portion 34 of the bottom of the tray along hinge 44. This support is firm as it has the bottom of the tray 38 to aid support flap 34.

LII

In operation rigid items such as a package of tomatoes, fruit, books, candy, records, and prepackaged chewing gum can be supported in an upright position as seen in FIG. 1 wherein several prewrapped candies 50 are illustrated. The partial shelves illustrated and claimed herein prevent the prepackaged or rigid items from slipping in the carton and thus have a satisfactory and neat display.

The invention can be also utilized by movers to pack dishes or experience works of art as several pieces are kept separate from each other by means of the partial shelves of this invention. It should also be recognized that by forming the orifice at 48 air can be circulated through the display tray or carton if a lid is placed over its top.

It is to be understood that although the most preferred results are obtained with cardboard or paper, similar results can be achieved by utilizing tin, copper, aluminum foil, sheet plastic material, tin foil, sheet metal, and so forth.

What is claimed is:

l. A display tray which comprises a substantially rectangular bottom member, front and back walls and two side walls joined to said bottom member, at least one side wall having at least one partial shelf formed from and hinged at said side wall, a bottom hinge formed from the bottom member to support said partial shelf, said side wall and bottom hinges forming the par tial shelf and support for said shelf, respectively, the partial shelf progressively increasing in width from the side wall to the bottom member.

2. A display tray blank for forming a display tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein said partial shelf is precut in the sidewall member and the bottom hinge is precut in the bottom member, and said side wall and bottom member are scored from the end of the cuts in the side wall and bottom member, respectively, to the junction of the side wall member and the bottom member, the partial shelf progressively increasing in width from the side wall to the bottom member.

3. A display tray having a substantially rectangular bottom member, a front wall, a back wall and two side walls, each wall joined to the bottom member, at least one diagonal cut beginning in one side wall and con tinuing into the bottom member, a second cut joined to the end of the diagonal cut in the side wall, a third cut joined to the end of the diagonal cut in the bottom member, the end of the second and third cuts each being joined to a scored line extending from the end of each respective cut to the junction of the bottom member and the side wall.

4. A display tray according to claim 3, the end of the diagonal cut in the side wall being joined to a second cut formed at an obtuse angle with respect to the end of the diagonal cut, the end of the diagonal cut in the bottom member being joined to a third cut formed at an obtuse angle with respect to the end of the diagonal cut, the end of the second out being joined to a scored line forming substantially a right angle with respect to the end of the second cut, the scored line extending to the edge of the side wall joining the bottom member, the end of the third out being joined to a scored line forming substantially a right angle with respect to the second cut, the scored line extending to the edge of the bottom member joining the side wall, the two scored lines meeting at the junction of the bottom member and the side wall. 

1. A display tray which comprises a substantially rectangular bottom member, front and back walls and two side walls joined to said bottom member, at least one side wall having at least one partial shelf formed from and hinged at said side wall, a bottom hinge formed from the bottom member to support said partial shelf, said side wall and bottom hinges forming the partial shelf and support for said shelf, respectively, the partial shelf progressively increasing in width from the side wall to the bottom member.
 2. A display tray blank for forming a display tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein said partial shelf is precut in the sidewall member and the bottom hinge is precut in the bottom member, and said side wall and bottom member are scored from the end of the cuts in the side wall and bottom member, respectively, to the junction of the side wall member and the bottom member, the partial shelf progressively increasing in width from the side wall to the bottom member.
 3. A display tray having a substantially rectangular bottom member, a front wall, a back wall and two side walls, each wall joined to the bottom member, at least one diagonal cut beginning in one side wall and continuing into the bottom member, a second cut joined to the end of the diagonal cut in the side wall, a third cut joined to the end of the diagonal cut in the bottom member, the end of the second and third cuts each being joined to a scored line extending from the end of each respective cut to the junction of the bottom member and the side wall.
 4. A display tray according to claim 3, the end of the diagonal cut in the side wall being joined to a second cut formed at an obtuse angle with respect to the end of the diagonal cut, the end of the diagonal cut in the bottom member being joined to a third cut formed at an obtuse angle with respect to the end of the diagonal cut, the end of the second cut being joined to a scored line forming substantially a right angle with respect to the end of the second cut, the scored line extending to the edge of the side wall joining the bottom member, the end of the third cut being joined to a scored line forming substantially a right angle with respect to the second cut, the scored line extending to the edge of the bottom member joining the side wall, the two scored lines meeting at the junction of the bottom member and the side wall. 